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Argus Leader, Sioux Falls. Dec. 31, 2012
• Suggestions to make 2013 a success
• Welcome 2013!
• What's ahead for the people of the Sioux Falls area and all South Dakotans. It's a whole new year for hopes and challenges, dreams and dilemmas. When this year closes in 365 days, we hope we all are better for the experiences it brings.
• Since we're in the news business, we won't pretend to make New Year's predictions, but we like to make New Year's suggestions.
• Let's look at local and state suggestions in a broad sense.
• In Sioux Falls, we like to be progressive, which is maybe part of the passion behind the urge to bring snowgates to more neighborhoods and states faster. People who have seen them, generally like them. As a city, we've added them to our wish list. The public is scheduled to vote on the issue in 2014, yet some would like it earlier. Let's just make sure we have good data -- a measure of how much money and time they take -- and then do what's best.
• The same could be said for a new indoor aquatics facility. People don't like ideas forced upon them but, if given honest, unbiased information, we usually can come to a reasonable agreement. So let's listen to each other.
• We can't go without offering some suggestions on the new convention center, which promises to be a beautiful facility. Advice for the city: Do not in any way go over budget and try to hide it. It's all about trust when future issues come up.
• Our state thrives in part for its variety and certainly the independence of its people. We enter 2013 as a state with a nice budget surplus, and true to South Dakota style we aren't likely to blow it on something fun and frivolous.
• We understand that no one wants lawmakers and the governor to go crazy with spending, nor do they want our leaders to hide it in a mattress for a big rainy day. But we suggest that it is well past the time when we should be seriously addressing teacher salaries and other budget items that got shut down when times were tough and cuts were made.
• Let's pay our fair share back to the people of South Dakota by appropriately funding those programs with our collective South Dakota money.
• In all cases, keeping citizens informed and engaged ends up being good for everyone. We would urge that open dialogue continue in our county, city, school and state governments and that officials at each level be as open and transparent as possible as the tackle whatever comes before them in this new year.
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